LONDON -- Arsenal are facing a defensive crisis heading into the FA Cup final after Gabriel Paulista was ruled out and Shkodran Mustafi remains doubtful, meaning Arsene Wenger may have to ditch his successful back-three formation for what could still be his last game in charge.
Wenger said on Wednesday that Gabriel will be out for six to eight weeks with a damaged medial knee ligament, while Mustafi is still sick and has been kept out of training this week.
Gabriel was injured in the Premier League finale against Everton on Sunday, when Laurent Koscielny was sent off with a straight red that rules him out of Saturday's final. Mustafi missed the Everton game with an illness and Wenger said "we still have some worries about" the Germany international.
"He's still sick at the moment and has not trained yet," he said.
If Mustafi cannot play, it would leave Wenger without his three first-choice centre-backs, and could force him to revert to his traditional 4-5-1 system -- unless he plays Per Mertesacker alongside Rob Holding and Nacho Monreal.
Mertesacker only made his first appearance of the season when he came on for Gabriel against Everton and has not started a game since injuring his knee in preseason.
"It just shows you how unpredictable football can be because we played at home [on Sunday], your mind is on attacking, and on the day we lost two centre-backs," Wenger said. "It's absolutely unbelievable and unpredictable, and we have been hit hard in a position where we will need to be strong on Saturday. We'll have to find solutions and hopefully I will find the good solutions."
Saturday's final is a chance for Arsenal to finish the season on a high after a disappointing league campaign that saw them finish outside the top four for the first time under Wenger. His own future remains undecided, with an announcement expected next week on whether he will sign a new two-year contract.
Wenger said "I don't know" when asked whether it will be his last game as Arsenal manager, but reiterated that he plans to continue in management regardless.
"It will not be my last match anyway, because I will stay, no matter what happens, in football," he said.
Wenger was also adamant that the result of the match will not have a direct impact on his future.
"No, why?" he said. "I don't care about me, I care about us winning the game on Saturday. When you go into a game, in a cup final you can accept the challenge. You just want to win it. The last worry I have is my person in a game like that."
A win over the Premier League champions at Wembley would strengthen Wenger's case for staying on, especially as it would make him the most successful manager ever in the FA Cup with seven titles. But Wenger said he is not focused on his own place in history.
"I want to do it just to win the cup, because I think the team has redressed very well the situation on the sporting side. That will be a good crowning of what we have done in the last two months," he said. "The team has given so much, I think they really want to win something. On top of that, [if] I have some benefit as well, it's OK, but that's not my main worry."
In more positive team news, Wenger said Alexis Sanchez is "OK" after struggling with a thigh problem, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also in contention after returning from a hamstring problem.
Sanchez still faces a fitness test, but Wenger sounded confident that the Chile international will be able to start.
"Knowing the player, knowing his character and knowing his commitment for the club, which I don't question at all, he'll make absolutely everything to be fit for Saturday," Wenger said.
Sanchez continues to be linked with a move away from the Emirates this summer as he has yet to sign a long-term contract extension. But Wenger once again expressed confidence that the forward will remain a Gunner and that it "will be completely our decision" whether the club sells any of their players.
"I just believe that we, the club, has a big job to do during the summer because you want to keep players like Alexis and end all the speculations that could happen," he said.